Guidance system for a moving person

ABSTRACT

The guidance system of the invention includes at least two spaced, permanently magnetized regions that each produce a magnetic field. The two permanently magnetized regions can be provided at either side of another region that produces a magnetic field of less intensity than the permanently magnetized regions, and in one embodiment, the former region produces no magnetic field. The system may also include portable means for detecting the magnetic fields produced by the permanently magnetized regions, and that sensor may be mounted to a cane for use by a person. In another embodiment, the permanently magnetized regions contrast with either each other or the region that produces a magnetic field of less intensity, or have different surface characteristics, or both.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a mobile object guidance system, andparticularly to a cane-based guidance system for guiding visuallyimpaired individuals along a desired path.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Individuals who are visually impaired face many obstacles to everydaynavigation. For example, such individuals often must use publictransportation, such as a subway system, for travel. Those systems maybe difficult to navigate without the benefit of adequate sight, and thusit is desirable to provide a guidance system that is inexpensive,reliable, and durable.

One type of conventional guidance system includes a longitudinallyextensive, permanently magnetized region, such that a sensor mounted ina cane can emit a sound when the cane is swept across the region.Although these systems have utility, one disadvantage is that they canbe unipolar, meaning that they have only one polarity and can emit onlyone signal as the cane sweeps over the magnetic field. Also,conventional systems that are not based on permanent magnets typicallyrequire comparatively expensive sensors to detect the signal.

Another disadvantage of several conventional guidance systems is thatthey cannot be easily applied to an existing surface. Some systemsinclude, for example, magnets embedded in a surface to activate asensor. This arrangement is inconvenient to install in an existingsurface, because the surface may have to be at least partially destroyedto embed the magnet. Also, if the magnets are permanently adhered to orembedded within the surface, they cannot easily be repositioned toindicate a new pathway.

Yet another disadvantage of some conventional guidance systems is thatthey may not provide the most effective guidance for sighted, butvisually-impaired, individuals. That is, systems designed to aid personswho are completely blind may not have other useful attributes that wouldaid a sighted, but visually-impaired person. In view of these and otherdisadvantages associated with conventional guidance systems, it isdesirable to provide a new guidance system having a variety of availablefeatures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The term "guidance system," as used herein, means a system that providesinformation to a user through one of the user's senses. Thus, theguidance system of the present invention includes portions that arepermanently magnetized, to enable a magnetic sensor to provide a signalto a user. It may also be visually contrasted, to provide visualinformation to a user, and may be tactually contrasted, to providetactile information to a user. These features may also be incorporatedinto a guidance system for other mobile objects, such as a forklift orother robotic apparatus.

In one embodiment, the inventive system includes at least two spaced,permanently magnetized regions that each produce a magnetic field. Thetwo permanently magnetized regions can be provided at either side ofanother region that produces a magnetic field of less intensity than thepermanently magnetized regions, and in one embodiment, the former regionproduces no magnetic field. The system may also include portable meansfor detecting the magnetic fields produced by the permanently magnetizedregions, and that sensor may be mounted to a cane for use by a person.In another embodiment, the permanently magnetized regions contrast witheither each other or the region that produces a magnetic field of lessintensity, or have different surface characteristics, or both.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the guidance system ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the guidancesystem of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the guidancesystem of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the guidancesystem of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the guidancesystem of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the guidancesystem of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventive guidance system allows a mobile object, such as a person,to gain information from the system either by touch, by sound, by sight,or by some combination thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, the system includesspaced, permanently magnetized regions, each of which produce a magneticfield that can be detected by a sensor. When the sensor detects thefields, it notifies the user of the location of the sensor.Alternatively, the magnetic field sensor can trigger a tactile alarm,such as a vibrating mechanism, which can be connected to the sensordirectly or wirelessly. Also, the permanently magnetized regions can betactually contrasted either from each other, or from an intermediateregion that produces a magnetic field of lesser intensity, to permit auser to gain information tactually. Lastly, the system also providesvisual contrast either between the permanently magnetized regions, orbetween the permanently magnetized regions and other regions. Each ofthese features (magnetic, tactile, and visual contrast) may be usedindependently, or in combination with one or both of the other features.The effect is to provide a versatile guidance system that may betailored to provide the features desired by the installer and the users.

I. General Operation of the System

A preferred embodiment of the inventive guidance system is illustratedin FIG. 1. As shown therein, the system 10 includes spaced permanentlymagnetized regions 12 separated by a region 14 that produces a magneticfield of lesser intensity than regions 12. Region 14 will be referred toherein as the "weaker field region." The permanently magnetized regionsare preferably, though not necessarily, identical, and are alsopreferably different from the weaker field region in magnetism, texture,and visual appearance. A user may use a cane 25, as shown in FIG. 2, todetect the differences in texture between the permanently magnetized andweaker field regions. That cane may also have a magnetic field sensor30, as shown in FIG. 2, so that the user may also detect the differencesin magnetic field between the permanently magnetized and weaker fieldregions. Lastly, the visual appearance of at least one of the regionsshould contrast sufficiently with the appearance of the other tworegions to permit persons with reduced vision to perceive thedifference. These features are described individually below.

The present inventors have discovered, among other things, that spacedregions having certain characteristics separated by a weaker fieldhaving other characteristics is more easily perceived than is a singleregion. This is believed to be true because spaced, permanentlymagnetized regions of particular dimensions provide more signals percane sweep than a single region, and stronger signals at particulardistances. This makes the strip much more easily detectable than othersystems having a single region.

II. Magnetic Contrast

The magnetized regions are preferably permanently magnetized, meaningthat they produce a magnetic field, whereas the weaker field region ispreferably magnetically inactive. A portable sensor detects the presenceand direction of the magnetic field at each side of the path, and theabsence of a magnetic field (or a weaker magnetic field) in the middleof the path, and provides signals to the user. The signal may be anaudio signal, a vibratory signal, a visual signal, or any other means ofindicating to the user that the sensor has detected a magnetic field.

The permanently magnetized regions are made to produce a magnetic fieldof sufficient intensity to permit detection by the sensor. Magneticfields of approximately 0.5 gauss at a distance of 15.25 cm (6 in) aredesired, although fields of greater or lesser intensity may be desirablefor certain applications. The regions are preferably unpowered, thoughpowered regions may be provided if desired. Also, the regions preferablyemit a continuous signal, rather than periodic signals, to minimizeconfusion for the user as to whether he has left the desired path, or isonly between successive signals. Also, the regions may be made toproduce magnetic fields of alternating polarity, so that the net fieldis essentially undetectable at a distance.

Three factors most directly influence the detectability of the magneticsignal: area (the size of the region over which the magnetic material isplaced), power (the strength of the magnetic material) and arrangement(how the magnetic material is oriented). Experiments have shown that themagnetic regions are more easily detected when they are placed over alarge area. However, it is impractical to place magnetic regions over anentire floor. or hallway, and thus a compromise is necessary. One mannerin which to achieve sufficient area is to supply a magnetized tape orstrip that can be applied in continuous form, and also to provide mats(made, perhaps, from several strips of tape) near obstacles, doors, andthe like.

More powerful tapes are more easily detected than less powerful tapes,and one way to provide more powerful tapes is to use a wider or thickertape. Although a wider or thicker tape can be detected at greaterdistances than can a narrower or thinner tape, the latter is actuallymore detectable at closer range than is the former.

This effect is shown in the following Table One, which illustratesmagnetic field strength (in gauss) as a function of tape width andmeasurement distance above the tape. The tape used to make thesemeasurements was made as described in Section V., below, and measuredapproximately 5.08 cm (2 in) wide, 2.0 mm (0.07 in) thick, and 152.4 cm(5 ft) long.

                  TABLE ONE                                                       ______________________________________                                                 Tape Width                                                           Distance   2.54 cm  5.08 cm  10.16 cm                                                                              20.32 cm                                 above tape (1 in)   (2 in)   (4 in)  (8 in)                                   ______________________________________                                        2.54 cm (1 in)                                                                           7.44     9.41     7.60    4.51                                     5.08 cm (2 in)                                                                           2.22     3.78     4.75    3.82                                     7.62 cm (3 in)                                                                           1.02     1.90     2.93    3.06                                     10.16 cm (4 in)                                                                          0.59     1.12     1.90    2.39                                     15.24 cm (6 in)                                                                          0.26     0.52     0.95    1.47                                     20.32 cm (8 in)                                                                          0.15     0.29     0.58    0.96                                      25.4 cm (10 in)                                                                         0.10     0.19     0.37    0.66                                     30.48 cm (12 in)                                                                         0.07     0.13     0.26    0.48                                     ______________________________________                                    

As shown in Table One, narrower tapes have a more pronounced transitionfrom strong magnetic field to weak magnetic field as sensing distanceincreases. For example, a 2.54 cm wide tape has a magnetic field at30.48 cm that is less than 1% as strong as the same tape at 2.54 cm,whereas the field strength of the 20.32 cm wide tape only decreases to11% of its initial field strength at the same distance. Becausetransitions between a strong magnetic field and a weak (or no) field aremost easily detected, a narrower tape is preferred to a wider one formost applications. More specifically, because the tape should bedetectable at about 12.7 cm (5 in), and should be most detectable atabout 2.54 cm (1 in), the 5.08 cm (2 in) wide tape is a preferred width.

Finally, with regard to the arrangement of the magnetically activeregions, a series of tests were conducted with 5.08 cm (2 in) widestrips spaced from each other by either 0.0 cm (0 in), 5.08 cm (2 in),10.16 cm (4 in), and 15.24 cm (6 in), and field strength measurementswere taken at 2.54 cm (1 in) above the strips in 8 locations relative tothe two strips, and at 10.16 cm (4 in) above the strips in 3 locations.The greatest transition between large magnetic field and small magneticfield occurred with strips of opposite polarities spaced apart by atleast approximately 5.08 cm (2 in).

In view of the foregoing considerations, one embodiment of the presentinvention includes two 5.08 cm (2 in) wide strips of magnetically activetape spaced 10.16 cm (4 in) apart. This product could be provided inroll form, wherein the roll has a total width of approximately 20.32 cm(8 in).

The sensor used to detect the magnetic field may be of any suitabletype. Generally, the sensor should be inexpensive, durable, andsufficiently sensitive to detect the magnetic field produced by thepermanently magnetized regions. The sensor should be matched to themagnetic field produced by the permanently magnetized regions, to enablethe former to detect the latter reliably. Another beneficial attributeof the present invention is the ability to use a relatively low-costsensor, particularly if the sensor will be used in close proximity tothe magnetic regions. One preferred sensor is a hall-effect sensor, onesuitable type of which is available from the Honeywell MicroSwitchCompany of Minneapolis, Minn. under the designation SS495A. The sensormay be mounted at the end of a cane or a walker, in or on a shoe, or inany other convenient location, subject only to the ability of the sensorto detect the magnetic field, and to detect differences in magneticfield.

III. Tactile Contrast

Tactile contrast between the permanently magnetized and weaker fieldregions may be provided in several different ways. FIG. 2 illustratesregions that are tactually contrasted. By making the permanentlymagnetized regions tactually contrasted with the weaker field region,the user can determine whether the cane is moving along the desiredpath, or is beginning to depart from the desired path.

Tactile contrast may be provided by a series of longitudinal ortransverse grooves, bumps, or any other suitable structure. In FIG. 2,for example, a set of aligned, longitudinal grooves 16 with squarecross-sections are formed in the permanently magnetized regions 12, anda set of aligned, longitudinal grooves 18 with more roundedcross-sections are formed in the weaker field region 14. The grooves aretypically 1.3 mm (0.05 in) deep and 3.3 mm (0.13 in) wide, which permitseasy cleaning and provides a skid-resistant surface. Another surfacethat provides skid resistance and a different texture consists ofgranules approximately 0.77 mm (0.03 in) in diameter spread randomly ona top-coated surface and thereby bonded to the substrate.

A different embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3, inwhich no tactile contrast is provided, because the tape 10a will be usedunder carpet, for example.

In a preferred embodiment described herein, comprising two 5.08 cm (2in) wide magnetically active strips separated by a 10.16 cm (4 in)inactive region, the outer strips are highly textured (as with pavementmarking tapes available from the Minnesota Mining and ManufacturingCompany (3M) under the designation 380 series STAMARK™ pavement markingtape, and the middle region should be of lesser texture but still beskid-resistant (as with 3M's flat, reflective, skid-resistant markingtapes).

IV. Visual Contrast

Regions that are visually contrasted are typically desirable so thatusers with limited vision can identify the path defined by thoseregions. Visual contrast between the permanently magnetized regions andthe lesser field regions may be provided by color or pattern. Althoughcolors such as black and white may be used, a yellow-green color (550nanometer wavelength) contrasted with a black boundary is believed toprovide maximum visual contrast. Moreover, because increased brightnessprovides increased contrast, which is desirable, it is preferred thatcertain of the colors selected be as bright as possible. One way toincrease brightness, and thus contrast, is to add fluorescence, and thusthe yellow-green color described above may be fluorescent in oneembodiment.

When spaced magnetic regions are separated by an intermediate region, itis preferred that the intermediate region is yellow-green and that thespaced magnetic regions are black. In other embodiments, variousstandard or fluorescent colors may be used, as well as patterns, such ascheckerboard patterns, logos, alphanumeric symbols, and arrowsindicating a desired path direction. Tape 10a, as shown in FIG. 3, neednot have visual contrast if it will be used where it cannot be seen,such as below a carpet.

In a preferred embodiment described herein, comprising two 5.08 cm (2in) wide magnetically active strips separated by a 10.16 cm (4 in)inactive region, the outer strips are black and the central inactiveregion is fluorescent green-yellow having a wavelength of about 550nanometers.

V. Construction and Application

The permanently magnetized and weaker field regions may be made of anysuitable material, including such things as plastic and metal. Apreferred material for the permanently magnetized regions is availablefrom the Traffic Control Materials Division of 3M under the experimentaldesignation "SmartTape," because it is durable, it produces a detectablemagnetic field, and it may be made to produce a tactually and visuallycontrasted region. A preferred material for the weaker field region isavailable from 3M under the designation STAMARK™ 380 or 385, because itcosts less than the material used to make the permanently magnetizedregions, yet it too is durable and can be molded and colored.

To make the permanently magnetized regions, several conventionalprocesses may be used. A preferred process is to compound the followingmaterials (all parts are by weight) in a Banbury-type internal mixer.

    ______________________________________                                        Masterbatch                                                                   Paracril B        100.0                                                       Chlorez 700S      70.0                                                        Paroil 140 LV     5.0                                                         Stearic Acid      0.5                                                         Vanstay SC        0.5                                                         Santowhite Crystals                                                                             1.0                                                         PE Minifiber 13038F                                                                             20.0                                                        PET 6-3025 fibers 10.0                                                        Magnetic Particles                                                            Barium hexaferrite P-235                                                                        950.0                                                       total weight      1157                                                        ______________________________________                                    

In the foregoing list, Paracril™ B is a medium acrylonitrile contentnitrile rubber available from Uniroyal Chemical Company of Akron, Ohio;Chlorez™ 700S is a solid chlorinated paraffin available from DoverChemical Corporation of Dover, Ohio; Paroil 140 LV is a liquidchlorinated paraffin available from Dover Chemical Corporation; StearicAcid is a process aid available from Humko Chemical Division of WitcoChemical Corporation of Memphis, Tenn.; Vanstay™ SC is a "chelatingagent"-type stabilizer available from R.T. Vanderbilt Company, Inc. ofNorwal, Conn.; Santowhite™ Crystals are an antioxidant available fromMonsanto Chemical Company of St. Louis, Mo.; PE Minifiber 13038F is ahigh density polyethylene fiber available from Mini Fibers, Inc. ofJohnson City, Tenn.; PET 6-3025 fibers are 0.635 cm (0.25 in) by 3dpolyester fibers available from Mini Fibers, Inc.; and Bariumhexaferrite P-235 is a magnetic pigment available from ArnoldEngineering Co. of Norfolk, Nebr.

When the temperature of the mix reaches 146° C. (295° F.), the mix isdropped from the mixer onto a two-roll rubber mill. The material issheeted off the rubber mill and fed through a two-roll calendar to yielda sheet of material having a thickness of approximately 1.4 mm (0.055in).

The sheet of material was embossed according to the process described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,227,221 (col. 2, lines 47-65) to provide a conformablemagnetic sheet having a plurality of protrusions projecting from onemajor surface. The embossed sheet had a thickness of about 0.5 mm (0.02in) in the valleys between the protrusions, and a thickness of about 1.6mm (0.063 in) at the top of the protrusions. A discontinuous layer ofliquid particle bond material was applied to the top and sides of theprotrusions of the embossed sheet using the process described in U.S.Pat. No. 5,227,221. The particle bond material was the same as thepolyurethane bead bond of U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,221 (col. 4, lines 20-39),with the exception that the pigment dispersion was made with thefollowing composition:

    ______________________________________                                        Particle Bond Pigment Dispersion                                              Ingredient   % (by weight)                                                                             Function                                             ______________________________________                                        methyl isobutyl ketone                                                                     7.04        solvent                                              zinc 2-ethylhexanoate                                                                      3.52        catalyst                                             Stan-Tone 10 EPX03                                                                         41.55       white pigment dispersion                             Stan-Tone 25 EPX01                                                                         3.52        red pigment dispersion                               Stan-Tone 90 EPX04                                                                         44.37       black pigment dispersion                             ______________________________________                                    

Stan-Tone 10 EPX03 is a white pigment dispersion in a diglycidyl etherof bisphenol A epoxy resin. Stan-Tone 25 EPX-1 is a red pigmentdispersion in a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin. Stan-Tone90 EPX04 is a black pigment dispersion in a diglycidyl ether ofbisphenol A epoxy resin. Each is available from the Harwick ChemicalCorporation of Akron, Ohio under the listed designation.

The surface of the particle-bond-material-coated protrusions wassprinkled with durable black spherical anti-skid particles of the typeavailable from Carbo Ceramics of New Iberia, La. under the designationsCARBOLITE and CARBOPROP. The particles were applied so as to partiallyembed them in the liquid particle bond material. The liquid particlebond material was solidified by passing the sheet through an oven at atemperature of about 175° C. (350° F.) for approximately 10 minutes ofresidence time, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,227,221.

A layer of rubber resin pressure sensitive adhesive with a thickness ofabout 125 micrometers (0.005 in) was laminated to the bottom of thesheet. The sheet felt similar to conformable pavement marking tapes andquite similar to those of STAMARK™ 380 Series pavement marking tape andSTAMARK™ 385 Series Non-Reflective Joint Cover Tape available from 3M.The sheet was visually similar to STAMARK™ 385 series tape except thatthe non-particle coated regions between the projections were darkpurplish-brown in color instead of black.

In general, the permanently magnetized and weaker field regions may alsobe of any suitable width and thickness, and may either be continuous orsegmented, though the former is preferred. For example, the weaker fieldregion may be approximately 25 to 180 mm (1.0 to 7.0 in) wide, andapproximately 2 mm (0.08 in) thick. The permanently magnetized regionsmay each be approximately 10 to 75 mm (0.5 to 3.0 in) wide, with thesame thickness as the weaker field region. The outermost edges of theregions are preferably feathered, to permit a wheeled vehicle totraverse the regions more easily. The separation between the permanentlymagnetized regions is believed to be important for the reasonspreviously described, and the separation distance is preferably twicethe width of a single permanently magnetized region. Although continuousregions are preferred, to insure that a user doesn't mistake adiscontinuity in the regions for an incorrect path, segmented regionsmay be used where appropriate.

The present invention may be used indoors or outdoors, and may beapplied either under substrates such as carpet, tile, or concrete, orapplied to the top of those or other surfaces. For example, to provide apath in an existing subway station, the system may be applied toexisting concrete floors along the desired paths, and secured to thosefloors using a suitable adhesive. For an office, it may be moredesirable to provide the system beneath carpet (and thus without thetactile and visual contrast features), which may be easily accomplishedby making the regions as thin as possible. In new construction, thesystem may be buried beneath concrete. In such a case, the weaker fieldregion may be modified to be only a mesh, or some structure sufficientto maintain a uniform distance between the permanently magnetizedregions.

Additional features may also be built into the present guidance system.For example, where a path divides, the tactile, magnetic, and visualfeatures of the regions may be different for each part of the new pathto indicate that a division has occurred. The right-hand path, forexample, might have transverse channels, a higher magnetic field, and acheckerboard pattern, whereas the left-hand path might have longitudinalchannels, a lower magnetic field, and a straight-line pattern. Differenttexture patterns may also be used to contrast the regions from eachother. The regions may have an adhesive (either pressure sensitive orheat-activated) thereon to enable attachment to a surface. If theadhesive is a pressure sensitive adhesive, it may be of the type thatpermits repositioning, and may be protected by a removable liner. Thevarious regions may also be conformable, both to conform toirregularities in the surface to which the regions are attached, as wellas to permit the regions to be curved.

FIG. 4 illustrates another embodiment of the system of the presentinvention, in which the spaced magnetically active regions 12a alternatewith lesser field regions 14a along each tape 10b.

Multiple weaker field regions and permanently magnetized regions mayalso be provided in a single tape 10c, as shown in FIG. 5. There,central permanently magnetized region 12b is flanked by weaker fieldregions 14b, which are in turn flanked by permanently magnetized regions12c.

FIG. 6 illustrates yet another embodiment, in which permanentlymagnetized regions 12d and weaker field regions 14c are arrangedtransversely in alternating relationship along the length of theillustrated tape 10d. Additional regions 20 may be provided along theouter edge of the permanently magnetized and weaker field regions 12dand 14c, if desired, and may have the attributes of either or neither ofthose types of regions.

VI. Experimental Results

The guidance system of the present invention was tested with elevensubjects to assess four guidance functions: stopping, change in pathdirection, straight-line guidance, and locating. The subjects weretypical of persons who seek guidance because of visual limitations, suchas limited field of view, blurry vision, night blindness, and blindnessin one eye. The subjects were provided with a cane having a sensor inthe tip. When the cane was moved near a guidance tape, described below,the sensor emitted a tone through a speaker in the handle of the cane.The cane, including the sensor tip, was 160 cm (5.25 ft) long.

The guidance tape was placed beneath a carpet that was sufficientlythick to prevent visual or tactile identification, and the room lightingwas extinguished. The tape consisted of three stripes each measuring 5.1cm (2.0 in) wide, each placed parallel to each other at a distance of5.1 cm (2.0 in) apart.

With regard to the four tested guidance functions, stopping is importantbecause it is enables a subject to avoid a hazard. Stopping was measuredby providing a segment of tape described above at a predeterminedlocation along the hallway, and instructing the subjects to stop whenthey detected the tape. Change in path direction was measured by placingthe tape in a path that turned left 4.2 m (14 ft) after the startingpoint. Subjects were not told which way the path turned, but wereinstructed to follow the path. Straight-line guidance was tested byplacing the tape in a straight line, and then instructing each subjectto following the tape twice: once with the sensor turned off, and oncewith the sensor turned on. The subject traversed the carpet until he orshe crossed a line 4.8 m (16 ft) from the starting point, at which pointthe deviation from a straight line was measured. Finally, the locatingfunction is important because it enables a subject to find a particularroom, door, elevator, or other location. To test the locating function,one segment of the tape was placed under a doorway, and subjects wereinstructed to move along the hallway until they identified the door.There were a total of eight doors in the hallway.

The system of the present invention was effective in helping thesubjects to navigate straight lines and corners, and to locate aparticular place. Specifically, in the stopping test all of the subjectsstopped in front of the tape, at an average of about 168 cm (5.5 ft) infront of the tape. In the change of path direction test, all of thesubjects correctly followed the path to the left. In the straight linenavigation test, the subjects deviated an average of 60 cm (1.97 feet)from the straight line with the sensor turned off, and an average of14.6 cm (0.48 ft) from the straight line with the sensor activated. Inthe locating test, all eleven subjects correctly located the markeddoorway.

Suitable uses for the present invention are manifold. It may be used inoffices, schools, homes, public facilities, hotels, and hospitals, andcan be used to mark not only desired paths but also structures such asstaircases, emergency exits, bathrooms, drinking fountains, windows, anddoors. Another use is to mark an edge or a boundary between two regions,such as the entrance to a parking lot from a sidewalk.

Although the present invention has been described with respect toseveral illustrative embodiments, the scope of the present invention isdefined not by those embodiments, but by the following claims.

We claim:
 1. A guidance system for a person moving through anenvironment, the system comprising at least two spaced, longitudinallyextending magnetized strips for placement along a path of travel forguiding the person along the path, each of said strips including regionshaving magnetic, coloration, and tactile features along the length ofthe strip that are different ftom the environment and therebyperceptible to the person.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said systemfurther comprises at least one weaker field region.
 3. The guidancesystem of claim 2, wherein the strips are secured in adjacentrelationship to provide a continuous tape.
 4. The guidance system ofclaim 2, wherein said weaker field region produces no magnetic field. 5.The guidance system of claim 1, further comprising a portable means fordetecting the magnetic fields produced by the magnetized regions.
 6. Theguidance system of claim 5, wherein said detecting means furthercomprises means for providing an indication of the location of thedetecting means relative to the magnetized regions.
 7. The guidancesystem of claim 6, wherein said detecting means is mounted to a cane. 8.The guidance system of claim 1, wherein the magnetized and weaker fieldregions are unpowered.
 9. The guidance system of claim 1, wherein atleast one strip includes a layer of adhesive for bonding the strip to asurface.
 10. The guidance system of claim 9, wherein said adhesive is apressure sensitive adhesive.
 11. The guidance system of claim 10,wherein said strip with pressure sensitive adhesive is repositionable.12. The guidance system of claim 10, wherein said pressure sensitiveadhesive has a removable liner attached thereto.
 13. The guidance systemof claim 1, wherein the strips are conformable to irregularities in asurface to which the strips are applied.
 14. The guidance system ofclaim 1, wherein said magnetized regions are arranged such that theyhave opposite polarities.
 15. The guidance system of claim 1, whereinthe coloration is provided by a fluorescent color.